Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-08


That Powderly Operated Upon - Too
Much Canseiess Clsmor Against the
Heads OF the Order-The Loss of Mem
bership and Why-Other Reports.
MINNEAPOLIS MINI, Oct. S-Every nook
and corner of the numerous ante rooms con-
nected with Harmonic hall were thoroughly
searched Friday morning before the X. of
L. assembly opened Its fourth days session,
and extra sentnels were placed on the stair
WAYS to keep the uninitiated at distance,
The reception accorded Mr. Powderly when
he entered was the heartiest he has received
during the week, and was taken as an indlca-
uon that the personal features of his address
had created II reaction in his favor.
As soon as the assembly was called to or
der the New York delegates made move,
that has been daily affair with them TO ex-
pei the stenographer, Rowland, but it failed
as usual Rowland is not member OF the
order and Is present as assistant TO Secretary
Litchman
The first business was the report of Secre-
tary Litchman, aud large portion of 1t was
devoted, as Powderly's had been, to a defense
of himself against the attacks of enemies
within the order, of which he bitterly com
planned, declaring that his every movement
had been misconstrued, distorted and falsely
presented He had borne all this in silence
until he could meet his enemies face to face,
and he now proceeded TO answer ALI the
charges, as far as he had knowledge of them.
But the most important portion OF his re-
port related to the condition of the order as
regards membership. On this subject he
said that the number of members reported IN
good standing at the last session of the gem
eral assembly was 702 92I, and the number
of members i'll arrears 20 753 This made the
apparent membership of the order, as then
reported, 729, gu The growth of the order
in the early part of 1886 was so great that
suspension of limitations for forty days was
ordered, but when that time expired the
rush began again, and the mass of material
added was weakness rather than an addi-
ton to strength. Then after the Richmond
convention for six months general assault
on the order through the press was begun
and kept up without ceasing. The result was
that the total number of members
in good standing dropped off by July |, 1887,
to Al, 900; add to this 5000 in arrears and
the grand total was 81, go But to this
should be added when known the large ac-
cessions since July l, 1887, when the decrease
would be much smaller 1t was charged that
there had been great deal of rascallty on
the part of local secretaries, numbers of
whom had obtained the funds voted by their
assemblies and failed to remit to headquar-
terS. There was also an astonishing amount
of ignorance as in cases where local officers
had carried the postoflice orders about in
their pockets for year, supposing them to
I've simply receipts and that the postal depart
nlent had paid over to the general assembly
tine amount deposited for remittance.
The report went on to recommend the es-
Establishment Of a cooperative savings associa-
ton IN connection with the order and the
adoption of some sort OF regaia to be worn
at funerals. Legislation was also recon-
mendeI making more stringent the prohibi-
ton of the use OF the name of the order or
any of its symbols for business purposes, and
placing an eifectual boycott upon every arti-
Gle upon which the Initials of the order were
used without the sanction Of the general ex
ecutive board. Numerous amendments to
the constitution We're suggested, and the re-
port, which was very anle and comprehen
Sive one, closed with al appeal for a Just and
fraternal Judgment upon the work to which
he had devoted years of his life The Secre-
tary was heartily applauded when he resumed
his seat
General Treasurer Frederick Turner next
submitted his annual report showing that the
gross receipts of the general executive offices
in Philadelphia for the year, including bal
4Bce carried forward from last year of Sll9,-
9l6 81 had been $4a7, 65G Us, and the expend-
boil # oh
s6 900 in the treasury on July l. The de-
tailed statement accompanying the report
accounted for every penny of the disburse-
ment
At the afternoon session Mrs. Lenora NJ
Barry, general investigator of the order,
submitted lengthy report in which;she con-
tended that so far that part of the constitution
which related to women had been but a
mockery, and urged that more
thorough educational measures should
be adopted in behalf of the
weaker sex Numerous instances of the
cruel treatment of women working in manu-
factories were cited, AMI a recommendation
was made that undivided attention should be
given to the productive and distributiye Co
operative enterprises, particularly in the
manufacture OF mems wOmen'S and child
ren's garments.
Next came the report of the cooperative
hoard. it made many valuable suggestions
as to the future government of the board,
aud asked that the board be given power to
establish a cooperative agricultural and
ma chinerv mauufartorv 10 he run on a
grand scale he superstition is that
should the convention ratity this recon-
mendation the headquarters of the concern
will " IN this citS and ITS works al iacent
Au,tbrI recommendation Is 10 adopt the co
operative farm in Minnesota, in Crow Wing
county.
Reports We're presented from the commit
lee OF education, aud the roll vas thsn called
tor resolutions Submitted under seal by the
assemblies. over loo were handed in and re-
ferred 10 the committee on distribution with
out debate, and the assembly adjourned for
the day.
The Fight Over Saturday Half-HoIiday.
NV YORK Oct S The Brass Manufac-